Rock House Reservation facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rock House Reservation |
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Rock shelter
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| Established | 1993 |
| Operator | The Trustees of Reservations |
| Website | Rock House Reservation |
The Rock House Reservation is a cool outdoor spot in West Brookfield, Massachusetts. This 196-acre (79 ha) nature preserve is managed by The Trustees of Reservations. It got its name from a natural rock shelter. This shelter was once used by Native Americans as a winter camp. It might have also been a meeting place or a camp for travelers.
You can find the Rock House Reservation off Massachusetts Route 9. It has 3 miles (4.8 km) of hiking trails. There's also a special center to learn more about nature. You can see a butterfly garden and enjoy amazing views. Carter Pond, filled with boulders, is right in the middle of the property.
Discovering Rock House Reservation
This special place is open for many activities. You can go hiking and have picnics. In winter, you can enjoy cross-country skiing. Some areas also allow horseback riding and mountain biking.
A Look Back: History of the Land
How Glaciers Shaped the Landscape
Long, long ago, during the last ice age, a giant sheet of ice called the Wisconsin Glacier moved across the land. This glacier changed the landscape a lot. It created unique rock formations and big rocks sticking out of the ground.
Today, you can still see two of these amazing rock formations. They are called Balance Rock and the Rock House Shelter. After the ice age, experts believe Native Americans used the Rock House Shelter. It was likely a winter camp, a trail camp, or a meeting spot.
From Farms to a Popular Stop
In the mid-1600s, settlers started clearing the forests in West Brookfield for farms. By 1866, William Adams owned a large farm that included the pastures around the Rock House. His family cared for the land for over 125 years.
In the early 1900s, the Rock House became a popular place. It was a stop on the "Copper Line," an electric trolley. This trolley ran between West Brookfield and Ware. Visitors would come to picnic in the old pastures. They also loved exploring the historic Native American landmark.
Arthur Carter's Contributions
Later, Arthur Carter, a descendant of the Adams family, used the area as a country getaway. In 1930, he built a small cabin. This cabin is now known as the Trailside Museum. Arthur also created Carter Pond by building an earthen dam.
In 1993, the property was given to The Trustees of Reservations. This gift helped protect the land for everyone to enjoy. The reservation is also near the birthplace of suffragist Lucy Stone.
Protecting the Land: Ownership History
The Rock House Reservation was given as a gift in 1993. This gift was made in memory of William Adams. More land was added in 2002, making the reservation even bigger. This helped protect more of the natural beauty.
Nature's Wonders: Natural Resources
Landscape and Elevation
The Rock House Reservation is located in a region called the Lower Worcester Plateau/Eastern Connecticut Upland Ecoregion. The land here goes from about 600 feet high to over 1,020 feet. This covers almost the full range of heights for this area.
You'll see many rock outcrops and large boulders. Most of these rocks are covered with lichens and ferns. The big rock outcrop that gives the Reservation its name is one of the largest and most impressive.
Forests and Water Features
The eastern part of the Reservation has mixed forests. These are forests that grew back after farming. There are also conifer tree plantations. The western half has a forest mostly made of oak trees. This part might even have some very old, untouched forest.
Carter Pond is a beautiful feature in the middle of the property. This two-and-a-half-acre pond is quite shallow. It was created in the 1920s or 1930s. A power line also cuts through the Reservation. This creates a special habitat where new plants grow. Several small streams flow through the property. They flow south towards Route 9 and the Ware River.
Carter Pond: A Closer Look
Carter Pond is a shallow pond, about 2.5 acres in size. The area around the pond, called the riparian zone, is very healthy. It has many trees and shrubs. The shoreline also has healthy plants like sedges and grasses. These areas are important homes for creatures like dragonflies, damselflies, mammals, and amphibians.
Pond Health and Challenges
The pond is about 1 meter deep on average. Its bottom is soft, made of dirt and decaying plants. Sunlight reaches the bottom about 40% of the time. The pond has good pH levels and low levels of nitrates and phosphates. However, it has low dissolved oxygen and high levels of tiny particles floating in the water.
There are many different kinds of small water insects and fish in the pond. But there are not many submerged or floating aquatic plants. It's unusual for a shallow pond to have so few plants. This might be because the pond has low levels of nitrogen and phosphorus. These nutrients help plants grow.
The low number of aquatic plants might also cause low dissolved oxygen. Aquatic plants produce oxygen when they photosynthesize. So, fewer plants mean less oxygen in the water. Still water or warm water temperatures could also lead to low oxygen.
Carter Pond also has a lot of dirt building up in the water. This dirt might be washing into the pond from the north shore after heavy rains. Too much dirt can make the water cloudy. It also reduces the places for creatures to live on the pond bottom.
There's also a lot of leaves and sticks building up on the bottom of the pond. It's not clear why this is happening. It could be due to slow water movement or not enough decomposers.
Protecting the Park: Threats to Nature
Erosion on Trails
Erosion is a big problem on many of the trails. The Fire Road trail is especially affected. When it erodes, dirt washes into Carter Pond. This can fill up the pond over time and harm the animals living there.
Recent repairs have helped with erosion. But future strong storms, possibly from climate change, will likely cause more erosion.
Invasive Plants
Some unwanted plants, called invasive plants, are present. But efforts have been made to control them. Now, regular management should keep them under control. Knapweed is one type of invasive plant spreading along the power lines.
Deer Population
Too many deer can also be a problem. When there are many deer, they eat a lot of young trees and plants. This can stop new forests from growing. Right now, the deer don't seem to be causing obvious damage at Rock House. This might be because hunting is allowed in some parts of the reservation and on nearby lands.
Fun Activities at Rock House
The Rock House Reservation is open all year, from sunrise to sunset. You can go hiking, horseback riding, and cross-country skiing. Hunting is allowed only on the western side of the property during hunting season. Fishing is not allowed.
Dogs are welcome, but they must be on a leash or under your control. Mountain bikes and horses are only allowed on the fire road. The reservation has over 3 miles of trails. Some parts of the hiking trails can be challenging, but it's a great place to explore!
Images for kids
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Rock shelter
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View of Carter Pond
